List finder



June 27,1950 B. D. SMITH 2,5

LIST FINDER Filed Aug. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 3 f r L" June 27, 1950 Filed Aug. 14, .1944

B. D. SMITH LIST FINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIST FINDER Blanchard D. Smith, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Scripto, Inc., a corporation of Georgia 7 Claims.

The invention relates to list finders and has as an object the provision of a device of this character which may be operated by the mere pressure of a finger upon the desired index tab.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a list finder that will immediately open to a desired page in accordance with the index tab pressed and will hold the preceding pages in a vertical position out of the way of reference to the exposed page or of writing upon said page.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character having no moving parts requiring presetting for the gaining of access to desired information.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device having but three elements each of which may be molded from plastic material.

Further objects will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing and wherein:

Figure l is a plan view.

Figure 2 is an end view.

Figure 3 is an edge view seen from the right of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing the device open to a certain page.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail section upon an enlarged scale taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1 with the cover of the device closed.

Figure 7 is a like section with the cover open, and

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

As shown, the device comprises a base I0, a table II and a cover I2. The cover is shown as pivoted upon the base by means of pivot stubs I 3, l4 entering openings in the rearward extensions l5, N5 of the base which base otherwise comprises a longitudinal member I'l connecting the two ends of the base and a front member l8.

The table II is shown as pivoted in the end members of the base upon pivots I 9, 20 projecting into openings in the end members of the base.

The parts may be assembled after molding by snapping the pivots into the holes provided therefor by resiliency of the end members of the base.

The table II is formed at its rear edge with a trough shaped depression 2i which coacts with rounded lugs 22 carried by arms 26 projecting from the cover I2. To lift the cover l2 when the rear edge of the table is raised by depression of its front edge, the table is formed at its rear edge with trough shaped depressions which coact with rounded lugs 22 carried by the arms ifijproject ing from the cover, as shown in Figure 6. To hold the cover upright while the table is horizontal there are shown points 23, also carried by the arms 26, which points swing under the edge of the table when the cover swings upwardly, to the position shown in Figure 7, wherein the arcuate surfaces adjacent the points 23 contact the edge of the table. In this position of parts, downward pressure on the rear edge of the table will exert. a wedging action upon the points 23 in the direction of radii drawn from the axis of the pivots l4, and the table 'will be locked. However, a slight pressure upon the raised cover will break the lock and cover and table will return to closed position by gravity.

By virtue of this structure it will be seen that pressure upon the forward edge of the table, which projects beyond the pivots I9, 20 will cause the rear edge to rise, thus lifting the cover by force applied to the rounded lugs 22, until stop members 25 formed on arms 26 strike stops 2! formed on the arms [5, [6 of the base.

The pages or cards bearing the lists are shown as engaged upon hooks 28, 29, the pages being perforated for the purpose.

To lift the leaves or cards, the cover is shown as formed with resilient arms 30, 3| having down: wardly projecting hook portions 32 each formed with a recess 33, the end of said arms adjacent said recess being formed at an angle as at 34, Figure 8. Therefore, all of the cards which are not held down by the finger pressed upon an index will be lifted by engagement in the recess 33 when the cover lifts, the ends of held down cards bending up to escape from the recess.

When the reference to the information has been completed with the device open as in Figure 5, a slight pressure upon the cover will close the cover and cause the angle 34 to strike upon the ends of the cards not lifted with the cover, and by resilience of the cards and the arms 30, 3 I, the cover will reassume the position with respect to the cards shown in Figure 8.

An important feature of the structure is the progressively increasing lengths of the cards from below upwardly. The pack of cards so formed are readily separated by the hooks 32 at any held down card.

As shown the cover member is in skeleton form comprising an opening 35 surrounded by longitudinal cover elements 36, 31, and end elements 38, 39. The arms 30, 3| are shown as separate from the end elements 38, 39 and projecting from the ends of the element 36 whereby a cer- 3 tain amount of spring of the arms is permitted for snapping over the ends of the cards.

The uppermost card or sheet 46 may be of different material from the remaining cards and is desirably glued Or otherwise fastened to the lifter member 12. The sheet 40 may be printed with data identifying the subject matter of the list which print will be visible through the opening in the frame-like lifter member.

The hooks 28, 29 may be of plastic cast integral wth the table, or may be of metal secured.

to the table.

Minor changes may be made in the physical: embodiment of the invention within the scope of the following claims without departing-from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A list finder comprising, in combination: a

card supporting table; a. plurality of indexed" cards supported on said table; means pivotally supporting said table between its edges for tiltingab0ut an aXis parallel" with the indexed edges ofsaid cards; a card -lifter normallylying on said cardsin-closed position ofthe device; means pivotally mounting saidlifter for swinging movemeritonanaxisparallel with and displaced from the-indexed edges of the-cards a greater distance than the a-xis of said card supports; meansaetuated by'tilting of the table with consequent motion of the edge thereof adjacent the second named axis to cause the-lifterto swing upwardly on its axisy-andmeans carried bysaid 'liften to releasably engage the cards; whereby" pressure upon acard' index causes the: lifter-to raise-all cards thereabove.

2. A list finder comprising, in combination: a base comprising at least-- one-longitudinal side memberand" transverse end members; a; card supporting" table pivoted between'said end members about a longitudinal axis spaced--from--sa-id side member,- to move from a normal tiltedto a' horizontal position; a: plurality of indexedca-rd's carried by said table with their-indexed-edges adjacent said side" member; means locating said card's on= the table for swinging-movementrelative to the table about-- an axis adjacent'their edges opposite to their index tabs; acard lifter pivoted between said end members-err an axis -r'em'ot'e fromsaid -table axis and -from said" side member; means carriedby said lifter toreleas a-blyengage said cards; and gear'likeme'ans coa'eting between thetable and lifter to cause lifting of said lifter andfree cards wlien said table is moved to horizontal positiorrby-press-ureon the-tab of a Wanted-card? 3. The structure'of claim 2*wherein -said" card 4 engaging means comprise hook-like members coaeting with end edges of the cards.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein the card locating means are curved prongs projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the table and from which the cards may be readily removed.

5. A list finder comprising, in combination: an integral base frame comprising a side member, end members projecting from the ends of the side member and a longitudinal tie member connecting said end members between their ends;

a card supporting table pivoted between said end members on an axis parallel with and between said side and tie members; a card lifting lid member pivoted between said end members adjacent their free ends on an axis parallel with the first named? axis; means coacting between said. table and lid to cause lifting motion of the lid when the edge of the table remote from both axes is depressed; and means carried by the lid to lift free edges of cards hingedly supported on the table:

6- Thestructureof claim 5 with the pivots provided by openings inone part and pi votlugs 0nthe remaining coasting part entering said openings, tobe assembled by snapping to place by resilientspreadingaction of said end members.-

7 A-listt finder-comprising, in combination? a base; a table ivoted between its edges onsaid base; a lid: pivotedi on said base on axisparailel' with the table axis' and adjacent an edge ofthe latter-7 aprojection from the table underlying aprojectiorr from the lid when'the'latter: is-closed upon the table whereby pressure upon an'edge ot the: table remote from said projeoti'on' m'ay swing the-lidupwardly on it's axis; and a second projection from-thelidunderly-ingsaid tableprojection when the :li'd is. open, to -prevent return of the table tonormal position by action of gravity or pressure.

BLANCHARD D.

CITED The following references are of record in" the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date:

l,895;409 Drucker Jan. 24321933 23051696 Lewis Jana. 18, 1938. 2,141,761 Pollock Dec. 2-7, 1938'- 2,329,300 Rummler Sept. 14"; 1943 2,341,983 Faas Feb. 15, 19M".

FGRE'IGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 374,177 Italy Aug. 17, 1939 

